This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A union official for the organization representing U.S. Capitol Police has blasted the special treatment given by the government to the officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the protest-turned-riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
That was the day hundreds of people mostly walked into the Capitol and looked around in their protest of what they saw as Joe Biden's illicit presidential race victory, a race that was under significant undue influences such as the FBI's interference.
Among those protesters, a few rioted, vandalizing the building.
Just the News reports that a statement it obtained from U.S. Capitol Police union chairman Gus Papathanasiou said the special treatment for Michael Byrd was wrong.
"What a slap in the face to the rank and file officers of the USCP, especially all who were on duty on J6," he said.
The publication earlier had reported that House Democrats had pushed the police department to give special benefits to Byrd, including a $37,000 retention bonus, help with $160,000 in fundraising, housing, and a promotion from lieutenant to captain.
All that surpassed the help given other officers who were at the Capitol that day.
The report said Papathanasiou demanded that Byrd be forced to repay the benefits that were more than what other officers got.
"Not sure what makes Mike Byrd so special that he thinks he needed to be 'taken care of' by the Department. USCP should give every officer a $37k bonus or have Mike Byrd pay it all back," he said.
Byrd's lawyer and Capitol Police officials didn't return messages seeking comment.
The publication said it reviewed internal emails and found Byrd was unhappy with all the benefits and was dealing with at least one Democrat in the administration to get even more.
"We play the game as you request and then once we're in compliance You guys change the rules on us," he wrote to Thomas DiBiase, general counsel for the Capitol Police, after he was told he couldn't access cash from a memorial fund right away.
Byrd also has been a controversial figure over his extensive record of rules infractions, including firing a gun at a stolen vehicle in a residential neighborhood while off duty and leaving his gun unattended in a public restroom.
The report explained Rep. Barry Loudermilk of the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee confirmed there were at least three other referrals to the Office of Professional Responsibility, but those records now are missing.
In an interview on the "Just the News, No Noise," TV show, Loudermilk explained the political pressure on Capitol Police to provide Byrd benefits was "highly inappropriate."
Papathanasiou said an investigation by the incoming Congress would be appropriate.
"I'm curious, what else is the USCP covering up? I truly hope the new Congress comes in to conduct a deep dive investigation into all of this and the top brass of the USCP, to include the IG office and OGC," he said.
A separate wrongful death case has been filed against the government on behalf of Babbitt's family by Judicial Watch.
Spokesman Tom Fitton told Just the news Byrd never should have had a firearm in the first place.
Byrd has claimed Babbitt, trying to climb through a broken window, was a "threat" to the House of Representatives.
He also admitted he didn't know whether she was armed or unarmed. She was unarmed.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Someone working inside of Jack Smith's lawfare cases against former and now President-elect Donald Trump reported "possible misconduct" going on, but an investigation into that issue, dated more than a year ago, has been stalled to date because Smith said a review would affect his investigations of Trump.
Those cases now, of course, have been ended by Trump's election to the White House in last month's vote.
So Congress is trying to get that review going again.
The revelations come from House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who confirmed the Department of Justice recently briefed the committee on an internal investigation it had opened into Smith's operations.
According to Washington Examiner, Jordan has been dissatisfied with what apparently is a campaign to block Congress from getting the information it wants, and addressed that concern in a letter to Jeffrey Ragsdale, counsel for the Office of Professional Responsibility, who was told to provide documents on the issues at hand within days.
Jordan, in the letter, pointed out the committee already had asked for documents relating to allegations Smith and his team "lied to a federal court, manipulated evidence seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during its raid of Mar-a-Lago, and improperly pressured a lawyer representing a defendant indicted by Smith." Those charges all have surfaced through various venues in recent months.
Further, there have been claims J.P. Cooney, on Smith's team, "intentionally sought to impose an 'unprecedented' and 'excessive' prison sentence upon a criminal defendant, and then spread false conspiracy theories when his supervisors overruled his recommendation."
All of this was held in abeyance because Smith insisted any revelations about misbehavior in his staff would affect the lawfare cases he was creating against Trump at the time, the letter explained.
"You stated that Smith only allowed the investigation to begin because it would now no longer 'interfere with the Special Counsel's investigation and prosecution.' It is absurd that OPR—the Department entity charged with upholding ethical conduct—would only examine allegations of prosecutorial misconduct after the subject of the allegations has approved the inquiry," Jordan wrote.
Jordan said one of the concerns was that "these attorneys" would be able "to evade internal accountability by leaving the Department."
The Examiner reported, "It is unclear what the nature of the misconduct was, but it is normal for attorneys to self-report to the DOJ's personnel office if they are aware of allegations being made about them in the media or elsewhere."
And it documented that Jordan has been trying to get records from Ragsdale since earlier this year regarding "various ethics allegations against Smith and the attorneys working for him."
For example, one allegation involves Jay Bratt and "was first raised in court by an attorney representing Walt Nauta, one of the co-defendants in the classified documents case against Trump. The attorney, Stanley Woodward, said that during a closed-door meeting, Bratt inappropriately brought up Woodward's application to become a judge while Bratt was trying to convince Woodward to comply with him in the Trump case. Smith has disputed the accusation," the Examiner explained.
Possible changes coming to the White House press corps have many in the media in an uproar.
According to reports from those close to President-elect Donald Trump, his previously tenuous relationship with the media is likely to get even more fragile after possible changes to the press briefing room, as The Hill reported.
Journalists are in an uproar as news that the incoming administration will change not only who has access to the president, but the seating position in the briefing room could reflect the value that Trump puts on various members of the media.
There have been rumors that podcasters, internet personalities and media deemed less left-leaning could replace major outlets like television networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post in the room’s front rows.
When asked about their reactions to the idea, reporters covering the White House expressed feelings of annoyance, frustration, and dread in conversations with The Hill this week.
Historically, the first row of the James Brady Briefing Room has been occupied by the four major networks of NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, as well as The Associated Press, CNN, and Reuters.
The second row is occupied by seats from other larger outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CBS News Radio, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg. However, certain news organizations lack formal seating in the room.
Numerous journalists declined to provide on-the-record comments or requested anonymity in order to speak candidly about the potential for a significantly altered press room and the resulting controversy.
“It would be a total mess,” one White House reporter told The Hill this week.
“I would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot deciding if they want to go along with what the Trump people are trying to pull.”
While The White House has always prioritized major news organizations when dealing with the press, Trump has not traditionally held that position.
In an effort to limit off-camera press briefings, the first Trump administration sought to exclude outlets it deemed unflattering. Among these were CNN, the BBC, Politico, and the New York Times.
A number of reporters from Politico, Axios, and Puck News were among those his campaign barred from attending last week's election watch event in Mar-a-Lago.
At present, the briefing room can accommodate 49 reporters from various outlets. Current publications would have to be targeted if pro-Trump sites like Steve Bannon's War Room were to be granted access to daily press briefings.
Although press credentials are decided by the White House, the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) formally controls seating.
After conservative news network One America News Network (OANN) failed to comply with WHCA COVID regulations in 2020, the WHCA famously removed it from the daily White House briefing rotation.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A new report from the Institute for Justice is warning Americans that their banks – and the federal government – secretly are spying on their money, their spending habits, their banking accounts and more.
With the punishment up to and including closing those accounts if the owner strays from what the government approves.
Such as shopping at specific retailers, or making cash deposits just under $10,000.
The institute explained, "Most Americans have no idea their financial accounts are being monitored. And that's by design. The same federal law that mandates this surveillance also prohibits banks from telling customers about these reports."
That means the first indication that a consumer may have about a government bureaucrat's issue with their activity is when their accounts are closed.
The institute explained Bryan Delaney, a bar owner in New York City, learned the hard way in 2023 when his corporate and personal accounts were shut down.
It seems he offended Deep State members by often depositing cash amounts under $10,000 from his bar business.
The feds demand that such deposits over $10,000 are reported, and those under $10,000 are documented "because they do not trigger" that requirement.
"Bryan wasn't trying to avoid any $10,000 reporting requirement; his bar's revenue simply happened to fall below that threshold," the institute reported.
Other suspicious activities include regular cash deposits or withdrawals, overseas transfers, donations to "controversial" groups, purchases at gun shops or shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods or Cabela's.
The Institute explained, "This is called 'de-banking,' and it's far more common than you might think. Thousands of Americans have had their accounts closed with little warning or explanation."
It's all because of a federal law that imposes demands on bank to monitor accounts.
Actually, the institute said, "Federal law provides that any transaction can be 'suspicious' if the 'bank knows of no reasonable explanation for the transaction.'
"In other words, ordinary financial activities are presumed guilty until proven innocent."
And it gets worse, the IJ explained: "These surveillance laws more broadly harm Americans by creating a vast database of financial information that is susceptible to abuse by bad actors both within and outside government."
That's because federal, state and local – even foreign – agencies are given access to the reports without any warrant.
The IJ is fighting the schemes.
"The Fourth Amendment guarantees our right to be 'secure' in our 'persons, houses, papers, and effects.' That protection for 'papers' should, on its face, extend to the kind of sensitive financial information held by banks," the organization explained.
Senator Ted Cruz recently endorsed Kash Patel, the FBI Director nominee, predicting a smooth confirmation by the Senate, Breitbart reported.
On CBS’s “Face The Nation,” Senator Cruz voiced strong backing for Kash Patel, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to helm the FBI.
During the televised interview, Cruz expressed his support for Patel, highlighting his extensive experience across various government roles. Patel's nomination comes at a time when Cruz and other Republicans have criticized the FBI's current administration.
Kash Patel is no stranger to government service, having worked as a prosecutor, public defender, senior intelligence staffer on Capitol Hill, senior intelligence staffer in the White House, Chief of Staff of the Department of Defense, and deputy director of national intelligence.
Cruz’s confidence in Patel stems from his diverse background, which he believes equips Patel to effectively reform the FBI.
Senator Cruz criticized the current state of the FBI and Department of Justice, accusing them of being politicized and weaponized under the Biden-Harris administration. He argues that this has undermined the FBI's integrity and public trust.
Cruz provided examples of how the FBI has been used as a "partisan cudgel," targeting individuals based on political affiliations or personal choices, which he claims include actions against parents at school board meetings and individuals opposed to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Regarding the current FBI Director Christopher Wray, Cruz suggested that his days are numbered under a Trump administration. He speculated that Wray might resign or be dismissed by President Trump once he takes office.
This potential change in leadership is seen by Cruz as a necessary step to restore the FBI's credibility and focus on justice free of political bias.
The interview also touched on the broader reaction to Patel’s nomination. Cruz acknowledged that while there is significant support for Patel, there is also considerable opposition from those wary of his approach to reforming the FBI.
The senator dismissed these concerns, attributing them to individuals opposed to significant changes within the FBI, which he feels are necessary to cleanse the agency of corruption and restore its reputation.
If confirmed, Patel will be stepping into a role that requires significant reform according to Cruz and other Republican supporters.
They believe Patel has the skills and experience to undertake this challenging task.
Cruz's endorsement of Patel emphasizes a desire for a reset at the FBI, focusing on depoliticizing the agency and ensuring it operates with impartiality and integrity.
Police in Boulder, Colorado said this may be the year they finally solve the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, a six-year-old beauty queen whose case shocked the nation when her body was discovered in the basement of the family home in 1996.
Newly appointed Boulder police chief Stephen Redfearn has reportedly made solving the 28-year-old case a top priority.
"We f****d the case up from the start, and now with new blood, we can finally fix it," an inside source at the police department told the New York Post.
"He wants it solved and off the books," the insider claimed. "He's assigning officers and resources to solve the murder, which has been a black mark on the Boulder PD."
"I'm not sure what it will take to bust it wide open but it feels like it's within reach. We're hoping for 2025; this is our year," the insider added.
Ramsey was found on a pile of clothes with a skull fracture and stabbed by a paintbrush fragment.
Suspicion initially was cast on her parents John and Patsy or brother Burke, but DNA evidence excluded them in 1997.
DNA found at the scene has been repeatedly tested, but nothing definitive has been found.
A multi-agency task force was established in 2023 to work on the case, and a new documentary on Netflix has refocused attention on the case.
'The killing of JonBenét was an unspeakable crime, and this tragedy has never left our hearts,' Redfearn said last week.
"We are committed to following up on every lead and continuing to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved," he added.
The victim's father John Ramsey has not kept quiet about his frustration with the way the case was handled.
"There have been horrible failures, but I believe it can be solved if police accept help from outside their system. That's been their flaw," he said during a recent interview on "Today."
Ramsey, now 80, said he was hopeful the new police chief would accept the outside help needed to finally solve the horrifying case.
President-elect Donald Trump just did it again.
In a bombshell announcement that had his supporters cheering, the soon-to-be 47th president finally selected the person he wants to lead the FBI, and the Washington D.C. establishment is already shaking in its boots.
According to Breitbart, Trump chose the highly popular lawyer and investigator Kash Patel to head up the agency under his incoming administration.
Patel, a longtime Trump supporter and "America First" proponent, thanked the incoming president in a social media post and hinted that his goal for the federal agency is reform.
Trump released a lengthy statement announcing Patel as his top FBI man, and praised the lawyer for his work leading up to the nomination.
"I am proud to announce that Kashyap 'Kash' Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump wrote.
Trump added, "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council."
The president-elect also touted his legal experience, and highlighted his vision for the reformation of the FBI.
"Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI."
Trump was praised across social media for picking Patel for the job, with many expressing hope that the tarnished agency can once again be restored to what it once was.
For his part, Patel responded to Trump's announcement indicating that he's ready and willing to take on the job.
"It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Trump to serve as Director of the FBI. Together, we will restore integrity, accountability, and equal justice to our justice system and return the FBI to its rightful mission: protecting the American people," Patel wrote.
He was also praised by several other members of Trump's incoming administration.
Patel undoubtedly has a tough job ahead of him, but by all accounts, there's no better person to tackle it.
The amount of crazies in the world who want to do harm to President-elect Donald Trump is off the charts, and that was evidenced once again over the past week.
According to the New York Post, federal authorities arrested an Arizona man for making bizarre and disgusting threats against Trump, threatening to kill him in several videos.
Manuel Tamayo-Torres, who was arrested in San Diego, had just posted another one of his deranged videos in which he threatened to "put a hole" in Trump's face.
Disturbingly, federal agents revealed that Torres posted numerous videos threatening Trump on nearly a "near-daily basis."
The suspect had posted several videos targeting Trump and making disgusting comments about his children, even claiming falsely that Trump was involved in a sex-trafficking his own children.
The Post noted:
Charging documents, which refer to Trump as “Individual 1,” described the threats as “vague yet direct,” and accused Tamayo-Torres of posting “numerous” videos “on a near-daily basis” over several months.
In the series of profane videos posted to Facebook, the suspect claimed that Trump kidnapped and sex-trafficked his kids, though it’s unclear whether Tamayo-Torres has children, according to the outlet.
"[Y]ou’re gonna die," the suspect allegedly said in a video posted last week, referring to the president-elect. “[Y]our son’s gonna die. Your whole family is going to die … I’m going to put a hole in your face."
In several of the threat videos, the suspect brandished what "appears to be a white AR-15-style rifle with a 30-round magazine inserted into it."
Feds arrest Manuel Tamayo-Torres of Arizona who allegedly threatened to kill Donald Trump
"(Y)ou're gonna die," he allegedly said in a video he posted. "(Y)our son's gonna die. Your whole family is going to die... I'm going to put a hole in your face."
🔻https://t.co/SfX3UBi7zV pic.twitter.com/0ATXu5GFBa— Blue Owl (@BlueOwlHoots) November 29, 2024
Torres even filmed one of his videos from outside of a Trump rally in Arizona, making crude comments about his children.
The suspect had also been charged by federal agents "with making false statements while purchasing a firearm after he allegedly lied on federal forms last year."
He had indicated on the form required to purchase the firearm that he had not been convicted of a felony, when in fact he had, in 2003.
According to court documents, evidence showed that the man owned several firearms.
Thank goodness he was captured before he tried something stupid that could have put Trump and his family in grave danger.
The Justice Department continues to pursue defendants from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol despite promises of leniency from incoming President Donald Trump, the Washington Examiner reported. Trump has pledged to end what he calls "political prosecutions" when he takes office.
Trump will take office in less than two months. Rather than halting their crusade against the people in and around the Capitol that day, President Joe Biden's Justice Department and FBI have doubled down on their pursuit.
Just this week, two Florida men were arrested and charged with several felonies. Their crime was using a Trump sign as a "battering ram" against police which garnered them the charge of assault of an officer with a deadly weapon.
A 56-year-old Virginia man was arrested and charged with two felonies after he allegedly pushed an officer while swearing at him. The agency shows no signs of slowing down despite Trump's pledge.
The writing is on the wall for the Justice Department and its vendetta against Jan. 6 protesters. Nevertheless, they continue to hunt down, arrest, and charge as many people as possible.
Attorney Bill Shiply, who has represented several Jan. 6 defendants, said that the administration is not about to let up. "They’re denying reality," Shiply said.
"They’re basically saying, ‘Well, it’s our toy for another seven weeks, so we’re going to keep playing with it,'" Shipley added. The attorney believes it's a waste of resources on their part.
"They’re tying up court resources for cases that are almost assuredly not going forward. And then the defendants have to retain counsel, and counsel has to get involved and put aside time and make appearances and arrangements and deal with the government and obtain discovery," Shipley said.
Trump has promised clemency to the more than 1,500 people who have already been charged for their conduct during the Jan. 6 demonstrations. The FBI still has many people on its wanted list who have yet to be prosecuted, and it looks like the agency has no intention of slowing down.
Among the many prosecutions from the Jan. 6 unrest is that of the president-elect. Special counsel Jack Smith pinned charges on Trump for allegedly attempting to overthrow the 2020 election and inciting the protest, NBC News reported.
However, Smith filed a motion last week to drop the charges based on the prohibition against prosecuting a sitting president. "That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind," Smith said in the court filing.
"The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have," he added.
Smith, who will step down before Trump takes office, said the decision was between "two fundamental and compelling national interests." He was split between the Constitutional idea "that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities" and "the Nation’s commitment" to the belief that "no man in this country is so high that he is above the law."
These prosecutions were political from the start. The Justice Department has not pursued other rioters with as much zeal as they have the Jan. 6 defendants, and Trump is right to take up their cause once he's sworn into office.
Hip hop mogul P. Diddy was denied bail yet again by the judge in his sex trafficking case, in the latest legal setback for the music producer.
Judge Arun Subramanian decided "there is compelling evidence of Combs's propensity for violence," ending his fourth bid for freedom as he awaits trial.
Prosecutors asked the judge to keep Diddy locked up in his Brooklyn jail, citing his history of violence and his efforts to obstruct the prosecution from inside prison.
Diddy has been accused of trying to influence the jury by recruiting his children on social media. Diddy also referenced paying off witnesses and finding "dirt" on victims in handwritten notes that were seized in a sweep of the jail.
While Diddy has offered an eye-watering sum of $50 million, he has been repeatedly denied release. Prosecutors asked judge Subramanian to deny his latest request, citing a litany of violent behavior as proof of his danger to the community.
"Former staff members have described the defendant threatening to kill them, throwing objects at them, and being struck, punched, and shoved by the defendant, and seeing him do the same to others," prosecutors alleged.
"This significant history of violence must be taken into account when viewing the defendant obstructive activity. Taken together, there can be no doubt that the Government has proven the defendant’s dangerousness by clear and convincing evidence."
Agreeing with prosecutors, the judge said "no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community."
The judge cited an infamous video of his assault of ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel.
Diddy's lawyers said the video was edited, but the judge was unmoved, while also citing contemporaneous text messages.
"I have a black eye and a fat lip. You are sick for thinking it's OK to do what you've done," one message said. "I still have crazy bruising."
The judge also pointed to Combs' conduct inside the jail, such as calling and texting witnesses and using the phone access codes of other inmates, as evidence that Combs cannot be safely released under any circumstances.
"[Combs'] willingness to skirt BOP rules in a way that would make it more difficult for his communications to be monitored is strong evidence that the Court cannot be reasonably assure[d] as to the sufficiency of any conditions of release," Subramanian said.
In addition to his criminal trial, the star is also facing a battery of civil lawsuits from dozens of alleged victims, including minors.